Csttltn-Hdsn Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Csttltn-Hdsn, New York 12033
Friday, May 19, 1989 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF A MAULE ML-4 SUSPECTED A CARBURETOR PROBLEM AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A SOD SURFACED, CLOSED AIRPORT. HE GROUND RAN THE ENGINE WITH NO PROBLEM AND DECIDED TO MAKE A TAKEOFF. HE ASKED A PERSON WHO WAS MOWING THE GRASS NEARBY TO CUT THE GRASS IN A 10 FOOT BY 1000 FOOT SWATH. THE GRASS WAS CUT AND THE TAKEOFF INITIATED, HOWEVER TAKEOFF SPEED COULD NOT BE ATTAINED AND THE MAIN WHEELS WERE SINKING INTO THE GROUND. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AND AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, IT NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE WET, SOFT GRASS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/19/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CSTTLTN-HDSN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12033
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CSTTLTN-HDSN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NY07
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1711
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 20 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1959
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40731
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4713T
NTSB Number NYC89LA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-4
Aircraft Series Identifier M-4
Aircraft Serial Number 56
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIMOTHY J. ALLEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address RD #2, BOX 113A
Aircraft Owner City PETERSBURG
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12138
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BENNINGTON
Departure State VT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City PETERSBURG
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --